Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster will next star in ‘Sweeney Todd’- Page 2

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 1:09pm

I think it's funny that people can't see Aaron in the role. Maybe you should look up the definition of what acting is and realize that they are trained for alllll different kinds of things. Sutton and Aaron are both Broadway royalty with great attendance records, and this production is lucky to have them. I don't love the lack of diversity with the two main roles, but not all shows are obligated to do that to please people who value such things. 

Norm Lewis (who was phenomenal) reprising. 

Norm Lewis is a brilliant talent, and he will always be the BEST Sweeney, Harold Hill, Phantom, Caiaphas, Specialist, and Javert that I have ever seen. 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 1:33pm

Sutton Ross said: "I think it's funny that people can't see Aaron in the role. Maybe you should look up the definition of what acting is and realize that they are trained for alllll different kinds of things. Sutton and Aaron are both Broadway royalty with great attendance records, and this production is lucky to have them. I don't love the lack of diversity with the two main roles, but not all shows are obligated to do that to please people who value such things.
 

Okay. Lol. 

 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 2:47pm

Shockingly bad casting.

[musikman]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 2:49pm

Sutton Ross said: "I think it's funny that people can't see Aaron in the role. Maybe you should look up the definition of what acting is and realize that they are trained for alllll different kinds of things. Sutton and Aaron are both Broadway royalty with great attendance records, and this production is lucky to have them. I don't love the lack of diversity with the two main roles, but not all shows are obligated to do that to please people who value such things.

Norm Lewis (who was phenomenal) reprising.

Norm Lewis is a brilliant talent, and he will always be the BEST Sweeney, Harold Hill, Phantom,Caiaphas, Specialist, and Javert that I have ever seen."

 

Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range.  Are they going to raise the keys for him?  This is nothing against him whatsoever, but I think people here are right to question the (likely) casting based upon our current knowledge of his capabilities as a singer.  I wouldn’t cast Patrick Page as Judas in JCS just because he’s a terrific singer and actor. 


 

 

 

Updated On: 10/30/23 at 02:49 PM

[George in DC]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 2:49pm

I hope it's not true. I wouldn't see that cast.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 2:55pm

Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range.  Are they going to raise the keys for him?  This is nothing against him whatsoever, but I think people here are right to question the (likely) casting based upon our current knowledge of his capacities as a singers.  I wouldn’t cast Patrick Page as Judas in JCS just because he’s a terrific singer and actor. 

Great comment and I see your points. If he is actually cast, I don't think they would give him the job if he couldn't sing the score. And I would cast Patrick in any role possible, but I do understand what you're saying. Someone who is completely miscast in a show and can't sing the score is a real bummer. We've only seen that once in recent history and it obviously did not end well for them. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 2:57pm

i'LL TAKE IT me some SUTTON AND Aaron on top great combo that will bring us back to ST!

Calling my cousin now.

Updated On: 10/30/23 at 02:57 PM

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:03pm

musikman said: "Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him? "

They'd definitely need to raise the keys

[The8re phan]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:03pm

Robbie2 said: "i'LL TAKE ITme some SUTTON AND Aaron on top great combo that will bring us back to ST!

Calling my cousin now."

 

 Feel free to take my seats.  

Please, no really, you can take them.....I will have no use for them

 

Updated On: 10/30/23 at 03:03 PM

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:08pm

imeldasturn said: "musikman said: "Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him?"

They'd definitely need to raise the keys"

I'm sorry but were you in the room when he auditioned for this? Do you have proof that he can't sing it? Just because we haven't seen this from Aaron in the past hardly means he can't do i

I know this board is full of opinions and it's fine to complain... but also, can't we celebrate that two primary theater stars are taking over the leads in a Sondheim show? Let's at least give them a chance to prove themselves before we complain on and on about it in multiple threads. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:11pm

Seems like people are concerned because these characters are so inherently dark and neither of these actors are known for playing roles with such gravitas. That’s why they’re both probably wanting to play them. It will be interesting to see them stretch and show they can be more than a corn fed optimist and a boy ingenue. They’re both getting too old to keep doing that, so it’s probably a good, strategic career move.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:19pm

HenryTDobson said: "I'm sorry but were you in the room when he auditioned for this? Do you have proof that he can't sing it? Just because we haven't seen this from Aaron in the past hardly means he can't do i

I know this board is full of opinions and it's fine to complain... but also, can't we celebrate that two primary theater stars are taking over the leads in a Sondheim show? Let's at least give them a chance to prove themselves before we complain on and on about it in multiple threads."

Pretty people are only reacting to the fact that this is decidedly uninspired casting at best, complete miscasting at worst. Every thread on this board pontificates about performances before they happen. It is quite literally a DISCUSSION board. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:25pm

Tveit is an odd choice because of his high vocal range. Can he sing Sweeney Todd in the proper key? As a baritone?

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:28pm

I'd say that he's an odd choice given his acting ability in addition to his vocal range, but maybe I'll be surprised. I was one of the rare few who actually found Josh's performance satisfying. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:33pm

ACL2006 said: "Tveit is an odd choice because of his high vocal range. Can he sing Sweeney Todd in the proper key? As a baritone?"

If Michael Cerveris, who originated the title role in Tommy, can sing Sweeney, then yes, Tveit can sing Sweeney.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:35pm

HenryTDobson said: "imeldasturn said: "musikman said: "Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him?"

They'd definitely need to raise the keys"

I'm sorry but were you in the room when he auditioned for this? Do you have proof that he can't sing it? Just because we haven't seen this from Aaron in the past hardly means he can't do i

I know this board is full of opinions and it's fine to complain... but also, can't we celebrate that two primary theater stars are taking over the leads in a Sondheim show? Let's at least give them a chance to prove themselves before we complain on and on about it in multiple threads."

People on this board have been going to theatre since the cold war and yet have managed to learn nothing about music at all. One does not become a baritone if he's a (high) tenor, it's not a matter of talent but of voice register. The role as written goes too low for him in a way he could not sing 7 or 8 times a week. Keys are changed for roles often enough, there is no shame in that. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:37pm

On paper, Tveit's acting is of greater concern to me than his vocals. The keys have actually been modified quite a bit over the years for Sweeney (George Hearn), Lovett (Dorothy Loudon and Patti LuPone), Anthony (Davis Gaines), etc. The movie didn't even have keys! 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:39pm

pmensky said: "ACL2006 said: "Tveit is an odd choice because of his high vocal range. Can he sing Sweeney Todd in the proper key? As a baritone?"

If Michael Cerveris, who originated the title role in Tommy, can sing Sweeney, then yes, Tveit can sing Sweeney."

Except that Michael Cerveris struggled with a lot of the low notes in Sweeney (and for that matter, with some of the high notes in Tommy).

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:44pm

Broadway61004 said: "pmensky said: "ACL2006 said: "Tveit is an odd choice because of his high vocal range. Can he sing Sweeney Todd in the proper key? As a baritone?"

If Michael Cerveris, who originated the title role in Tommy, can sing Sweeney, then yes, Tveit can sing Sweeney."

Except that Michael Cerveris struggled with a lot of the low notes in Sweeney (and for that matter, with some of the high notes in Tommy)."

Well, he didn’t have to struggle to get Tony nominations for both roles.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:49pm

pmensky said: "Seems like people are concerned because these characters are so inherently dark and neither of these actors are known for playing roles with such gravitas. That’s why they’re both probably wanting to play them. It will be interesting to see them stretch and show they can be more than a corn fed optimist and a boy ingenue. They’re both getting too old to keep doing that, so it’s probably a good, strategic career move."

Tveit and Foster are about as menacing as Groban and Ashford, so they seem well-suite for this production's tone and approach.

 

[B212323]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 3:55pm

I'm more interested in knowing who's replacing Gaten. 

[Noideawhatimdoinghere]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 4:03pm

musikman said: Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him? This is nothing against him whatsoever, but I think people here are right to question the (likely) casting based upon our current knowledge of his capabilities as a singer. I wouldn’t cast Patrick Page as Judas in JCS just because he’s a terrific singer and actor.

Aaron is not a baritone. And they will have to transpose some of the score. His tessitura and timbre just is not that of a baritone. He's a bonafide lyric tenor. BUT, that being said. Aaron is more than a high belting pop tenor. Not many people know that he basically trained as a classical singer his whole life before changing from classical voice major to musical theatre major in college. He's even sung both the Rodolfo aria from La Bohème and an English art song in his concerts. Have a listen to this audio of him singing Che Gelida Manina https://youtu.be/ZKPtqFzKx4c?si=SkWQk2iIlhIqufW1 I think this definitely is proof that he's got the legit vocals. He'll definitely throw in some grit and growls though, when required. He doesn't have the baritone timbre, but Sweeney has been played by tenors before. Alexander Gemignani for example. Hugh Panaro is also a tenor, though darker than Aaron. And I know that Aaron will go full out in this role and be a bat**** insane Sweeney. Plus, it's been a dream role of his for 10 years. He'll do it justice.

 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 4:15pm

pmensky said: "Except that Michael Cerveris struggled with a lot of the low notes in Sweeney (and for that matter, with some of the high notes in Tommy)."

Well, he didn’t have to struggle to get Tony nominations for both roles."

That's cute that you think a Tony nom is what determines whether someone was good in a role....

And for the record, I'm not saying Cerveris wasn't good--he just struggled with some of the low notes is what I'm pointing out.

[Noideawhatimdoinghere]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 4:20pm

pmensky said: Well, he didn’t have to struggle to get Tony nominations for both roles."

 

Bad argument. Jason Danieley is one of the greatest Broadway actors ever and has never gotten a Tony nomination. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/30/23 at 5:18pm

pmensky said: "Broadway61004 said: "pmensky said: "ACL2006 said: "Tveit is an odd choice because of his high vocal range. Can he sing Sweeney Todd in the proper key? As a baritone?"

If Michael Cerveris, who originated the title role in Tommy, can sing Sweeney, then yes, Tveit can sing Sweeney."

Except that Michael Cerveris struggled with a lot of the low notes in Sweeney (and for that matter, with some of the high notes in Tommy)."

Well, he didn’t have to struggle to get Tony nominations for both roles."

Nor did he struggle to lose both.